9 months. 100 persons. Inside the making of a holiday window
Only a handful of department stores in New York still make them, but those that do their best.
It was time to leave.
Just after 7 p.m. Tuesday evening, security teams crossed Fifth Avenue with police barricades, closing one of New York's main thoroughfares to traffic. A grand piano has been set up in front of the dark facade of Saks Fifth Avenue between 49th and 50th streets.
And then: Elton John.
< p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">Wearing a teal jacket, red sweatpants and his red tinted glasses, he waved at the crowd thronging the barricades from the passenger seat of 'a purple golf cart that drove him to the piano.He took his place on the bench while his husband, David Furnish, and two sons, Zachary, 11 years old, and Elijah, 9 years old, formed a semi-circle around him. And then the countdown began.
"5…4…3…2…1!"
The black curtains of the six windows on the ground floor have risen, revealing piston rockets, kaleidoscopes and a spinning top.
"And you can tell everybody this is your song," sang Mr John, 75, as he launched into his famous single.
On the limestone facade behind it, miles of light bulbs came to life, multicolored ribbons of light streaking the neoclassical building, meandering and blooming in pinwheels of light, an annual tradition for the department store since 2004 Fireworks were shot from the roof in bursts of orange, red and green.
"Merry Christmas everyone!" Mr. John said.
In an interview ahead of his performance, Mr John, who grew up looking at the festive window displays of department stores at his local department store in Harrow, North London and later Harrods and Selfridges with his family, called the tradition a "magical" part of the holiday season.
"I was always so excited to see the new displays every year," he said. "It was a Christmas highlight."
Saks also donated $1 million to the singer's AIDS Foundation Rocket Fund and co-hosted a vacation merchandise collection with Mr. John that features more than 60 designers, including Gucci, Versace, Valentino and Jason Wu. The collection includes clothing — including tracksuits, of course — shoes, beauty products, glasses and accessories.
Only a handful of department stores in New York still make them, but those that do their best.
It was time to leave.
Just after 7 p.m. Tuesday evening, security teams crossed Fifth Avenue with police barricades, closing one of New York's main thoroughfares to traffic. A grand piano has been set up in front of the dark facade of Saks Fifth Avenue between 49th and 50th streets.
And then: Elton John.
< p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">Wearing a teal jacket, red sweatpants and his red tinted glasses, he waved at the crowd thronging the barricades from the passenger seat of 'a purple golf cart that drove him to the piano.He took his place on the bench while his husband, David Furnish, and two sons, Zachary, 11 years old, and Elijah, 9 years old, formed a semi-circle around him. And then the countdown began.
"5…4…3…2…1!"
The black curtains of the six windows on the ground floor have risen, revealing piston rockets, kaleidoscopes and a spinning top.
"And you can tell everybody this is your song," sang Mr John, 75, as he launched into his famous single.
On the limestone facade behind it, miles of light bulbs came to life, multicolored ribbons of light streaking the neoclassical building, meandering and blooming in pinwheels of light, an annual tradition for the department store since 2004 Fireworks were shot from the roof in bursts of orange, red and green.
"Merry Christmas everyone!" Mr. John said.
In an interview ahead of his performance, Mr John, who grew up looking at the festive window displays of department stores at his local department store in Harrow, North London and later Harrods and Selfridges with his family, called the tradition a "magical" part of the holiday season.
"I was always so excited to see the new displays every year," he said. "It was a Christmas highlight."
Saks also donated $1 million to the singer's AIDS Foundation Rocket Fund and co-hosted a vacation merchandise collection with Mr. John that features more than 60 designers, including Gucci, Versace, Valentino and Jason Wu. The collection includes clothing — including tracksuits, of course — shoes, beauty products, glasses and accessories.
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